Hacking involves finding and exploiting weaknesses in computer systems and networks to gain unauthorized access. There are different types of hackers, including ethical hackers who work to identify vulnerabilities with permission to help organizations strengthen security, and black hat hackers who break into systems for malicious reasons like theft. Businesses need to protect themselves against hacking through measures like ethical hacking to identify issues and working with software vendors to address weaknesses before criminals can exploit them. Ethical hacking is legal if done with the owner's permission and all vulnerabilities are reported transparently.